My Secret Guide to Paris by Lisa Schroeder Read Free Book Online Page A

bottom right-hand part of the map. “We’re here. The Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel are both up here.” I moved my finger to the middle of the map. “Look, there’s a big garden nearby, too. Maybe we can check that out.”
    “Jardin,” he said, reading from the map. “Yeah, it kind of sounds like ‘garden.’ ”
    I laughed. “That’s not how I know it’s a garden. See the green squares all over the map?” I pointed to the legend that explained what the different colors and lines meant. “Those are all parks or gardens.”
    “Got it. That makes sense.”
    I shook my head as I wondered if he’d ever even looked at a map before now.
    While Justin asked the man at the front desk which train we should take to get to the Louvre, I thought up a plan in my head. It went like this: I’d hang out with Justin for a couple of hours and get used to riding the Métro. While we were together, I’d talk nonstop and ask lots of annoying questions. That way, when I suggested that I go off on my own for a little while, he’d be happy to let me go.
    “All right,” Justin said, with a piece of paper and a map in his hands. “Let’s do this.”
    Outside, gray clouds had formed a cover over the city. I missed the sunshine and blue sky we’d had the day before, but I told myself Paris is still magnificent even on cloudy days. According to my mother, gray and rainy was the norm for Paris, except in the summer months.
    Justin and I found the nearest Métro station, bought our tickets, and boarded the train when it came. Being the boy that he is, my brother took a seat next to a gorgeous girl about his age. He gave me a look that told me I better not sit too close to him. So much for me asking him a bunch of annoying questions. I sat across from him, next to a girl about my age wearing a red beret and reading a magazine. She looked exactly like I’d pictured young French girls.
    I reached into my messenger bag to get the first envelope. With Justin preoccupied and my mother nowhere in sight, I could finally read it without worrying about getting caught.
    The seven envelopes were still rubber-banded together. I took out the first one and ripped it open. Inside were two handwritten notes, folded in half, one with a number one on it and the other a number two, plus some euro bills and a piece of paper with directions. I unfolded note number one and read:
    BONJOUR, NORA, AND WELCOME TO PARIS!
    I just now purchased our airplane tickets and I’m so excited about our trip, I can’t sleep. I want this to be a meaningful, memorable trip for you. Something you look back on years from now with great fondness.
    As you know, I’ll have to work some of the time while we’re in Paris. To make your trip extra special and to make me feel a little less guilty about that work I’ll be doing, I’ve created a sort of treasure hunt for you and your mother. I know how much you love treasure hunts, Nora! It’s going to be so much fun, and what a wonderful way for you to get to know my favorite city. You can look forward to meeting one of my dear friends at each location as well. You will be in good hands, I promise.
    In each envelope you’ll find some euros, Métro and/or walking directions, and a note telling you a place to visit. The envelopes should be opened in order (envelope one first, envelope two next, and so on), and do not open a new envelope until you have completed the prior excursion.
    My heart is full of emotions as I think ahead to the time I will spend with you and your mother in Paris. It is hard to wait, but wait I must. In the meantime, I’ll put some of that emotion into coming up with fun adventures for you.
    Do you remember when you and I watched The Wizard of Oz together? It’s one of my favorite movies. And while it’s true that there’s no place like home, as Dorothy learns, whenever I’m in Paris, I think to myself, there’s no place like Paris. You’ll soon see for yourself exactly what I